Tests on adults as bird flu hits

Two adults are being tested for bird flu after an outbreak of the virus on a farm near Corwen, North Wales.

Health chiefs have stressed that the outbreak at the smallholding, which has seen 45 chicken die or be slaughtered, is not the most dangerous H5N1 strain but H7N2 low pathogenic avian influenza.

A restriction zone has been set up around the smallholding at Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, stopping birds and bird products being moved in or out of the area.

But Dr Christianne Glossop, Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, said "We have no reason to believe that the viral infection is spreading rapidly within this small population. This isn't another East Anglia situation at the moment."

Test results are now expected on the two adults connected to the smallholding, who have conjunctivitis and flu-like symptoms but are not in hospital.

The 20-week-old Rhode Island Red chickens were bought by the smallholding two weeks ago. But one of them died the day after it was taken to the farm and now all of them are dead.

Dr Glossop said: "We are not yet asking bird keepers within the zone to bring their birds indoors."

The source of the outbreak is being investigated and Dr Glossop urged poultry keepers to look out for signs of disease in their birds.